How to Start SEO for New Websites: 9 Steps

SEO for new websites is easiest when it starts before launch. A brand-new domain has no history, few links and no rankings, so Google needs clear signals about what each page covers and why it deserves to show up. Get the foundations right in the first few weeks and every page you publish afterwards has a better chance.

This guide walks through nine practical steps, from domain set-up to your first links, plus what to expect in the first six months and the mistakes that slow new sites down.

Nine steps to start SEO for new websites

Work through these roughly in order. Select a step to jump to the detail.

1. Settle your domain and URL basics

Choose a short, memorable domain based on your brand. Keywords in the domain make little difference to rankings, and an exact-match name can look spammy. For an Australian business, a .com.au domain also signals where you operate.

Then make sure there’s only one version of every page. Use HTTPS everywhere, and redirect the http and www (or non-www) variants to your chosen version with permanent 301 redirects. Keep URLs short and readable, such as /web-design-perth/ rather than /page?id=123.

2. Connect Search Console, Bing and analytics

Set these up before launch so you have data from day one. Verify your domain in Google Search Console and submit your XML sitemap. Import the same site into Bing Webmaster Tools, which also feeds Microsoft Copilot. Finally, set up Google Analytics 4 (or your preferred tool) and track the actions that matter, such as enquiries, calls and bookings.

3. Get the technical basics right

Before launch, remove any “noindex” settings left from development, and check that robots.txt doesn’t block important pages or the files your pages need to display. Next, make sure every page loads quickly and works well on a phone. Google’s Core Web Vitals targets are a Largest Contentful Paint within 2.5 seconds, Interaction to Next Paint within 200 milliseconds and Cumulative Layout Shift below 0.1.

4. Plan your site structure

When it comes to SEO for new websites, structure is easier to get right before launch than after. Start with one strong page for each core service or product. These are the pages most likely to bring in enquiries. Then plan supporting articles that answer the questions customers ask along the way, and link them back to the relevant service page. For example, a web design business might pair its main service page with guides on choosing a CMS, website costs and accessibility.

Above all, launch with a smaller number of strong pages rather than dozens of thin ones. You can add more as you learn what people search for.

5. Research keywords by intent

Group search terms by what the person wants. Some want to hire (“accountant Perth”), some are comparing options (“Xero vs MYOB”) and some want to learn (“how does BAS work”). Each needs a different kind of page.

New sites rarely rank for broad, competitive terms straight away. Instead, start with specific, lower-competition phrases that match your services closely, including suburb or industry terms where they fit. Search Console will soon show which queries you already appear for, so build on those.

6. Write pages that genuinely answer the search

Each page should answer its main question clearly, near the top, then go deeper. Write a specific title and meta description, use one H1 and logical subheadings, and include real examples, photos and details only your business can offer. In addition, show who’s behind the content, with author names, credentials and contact details. That trust matters to readers, Google and AI tools alike.

7. Link your pages together

In addition, internal links help visitors find related information and help Google discover and understand new pages. Every new page should be linked from at least a couple of relevant existing pages, using descriptive link text rather than “click here”. Check regularly for “orphan” pages that nothing links to.

8. Add structured data and business details

Structured data (schema markup) tells search engines who you are, where you operate and what each page is about. For most businesses, Organization or LocalBusiness markup, breadcrumbs and article markup on blog posts are the useful starting points. However, don’t expect FAQ or HowTo rich results, since Google has limited or removed them.

If you serve local customers, set up your Google Business Profile at launch and keep your name, address and phone number identical everywhere. Our local SEO mistakes guide covers this in detail.

9. Earn your first links and mentions

Links from relevant, trusted websites help a new site build credibility, and they’re often the slowest part of SEO for new websites. Start with the easy wins: industry associations, suppliers and partners, local business groups, and genuine directories in your sector. After that, publish something worth referencing, such as a useful local guide, original data or a practical tool. Avoid buying links or joining link schemes, which can lead to penalties.

What to expect from SEO for new websites

SEO is slower for new domains, because Google is still learning to trust them. Every site is different, but progress usually looks something like this.

In fact, the timeline depends heavily on competition. A specialist service in one suburb can move quickly, while a national ecommerce site in a crowded market takes much longer. Track impressions and clicks in Search Console, not just rankings, because they show progress well before traffic grows.

How CAG helps with SEO for new websites

We build SEO into new websites from the start, rather than bolting it on later. Our web development team handles fast, mobile-friendly builds with clean URLs, structured data and redirects. Then our SEO and AI search optimisation team plans keywords, writes content and tracks results, and we can host the finished site on our managed hosting.

We focus on search rather than paid ads for long-term growth. Our PPC vs SEO comparison explains why.